I spent a total of three nights in Montbard. There were other adventures during my visit.
I was woken about 3 one morning listening to a loud lover’s quarrel echoing through the night from down the street. Due to the exceptional quiet, and the fact the argument took place in the middle of the street, it was easy to follow the tone of the conversation. She had obviously taken some great exception to his behavior during the night, and made certain all the neighbors knew of it. An unusually loud encounter, contrary to what I’d experience everywhere else.
An evening at the local pizza restaurant was quite lively. Obviously a popular spot, I watched as various patrons arrived, greeting familiar faces. I tried the Pizza del Mar, with shrimp, small oysters, and calamari. Not bad at all, but I’d probably do something more traditional the next time.
And I met other barge owners. In helping Ferrous and another boat to moor, I met Ted and Charlotte while assisting them in tying off to the iron rings. In Montbard, our time was very brief, but our paths would cross again. There were various other boats, large and small, most passing on their way downstream.
The weather had turned decidedly warmer, and the season continued with little rain. It was time to head back downstream, back to Migennes for the final mooring, and so, on July 31st, I headed to Ravieres. I spent the evening moored safely in Raviers, with a large barge moored ahead of me, and enjoyed a familiar meal at L’Idyll.
The next two days were marred with some delays and other issues.
Between Ravieres and Ancy-le-Franc, I started out sharing the lock with another large barge. Poor mooring points given our respective lengths made me quite nervous. I dropped back after the first lock, pulling to the side to take care of clogged raw water intake filters. While the other barge moved onward, my delay seemed to have irritated the eclusiers, who checked on my issues. They then insisted I be at a certain lock promptly at 1PM after the lunch break. Taking their request seriously, I was in place and ready, but no eclusier appeared until 1:45, and then only to allow boats to lock upstream. I didn’t lock through downstream until 2:15!
After a nice light meal at La Botica, a small restaurant and bar next to the port in Ancy-le-Franc the night before, where I watched an entertaining baby goat chase the chickens, the next day’s trip to Tanlay also involved delays.
First, having crammed myself in at the bank behind the Hotel barge spot (occupied) the night before in A-l-F, I found the pool had dropped in the morning and my stern was aground. It came free with a bit of jostling, and I departed. Then, at both the first lock and the third, I had some extended delays while locks underwent some repairs, the first being part of an ongoing effort (welding and patching) but the second unexpected. Fortunately the crew working on the first lock was called to work on the third, and I was finally able to tie up in Tanlay just before 4 PM, a short trip but a long day.
After two eventful days, the evening took a very pleasant turn as Ferrous pulled into port, my having passed them somewhere along the way. We quickly agreed to have a cold beer at the local restaurant, then broke for a bit and enjoyed a late meal together. Ted and Charlotte proved to be wonderful and interesting folks, and I thoroughly enjoyed hearing how they had come to spend the last 20 years or so in France, and their recent decision to live on Ferrous full time. It was a delightful end to the day and the start of a new friendship.